Are you a cycling enthusiast? Even if you're not, how can you not be captivated by the athletic efforts displayed in the re noun "le Tour de France"?! From Saturday July 2nd to Sunday July 24th 2011, the 98th Tour de France will be made up of 21 stages and will cover a total distance of 3,430.5 kilometres.
These stages have the following profiles:
- 10 flat stages,
- 6 mountain stages and 4 summit finishes,
- 3 medium mountain stages,
- 1 individual time-trial stage (42.5 km).
- 1 team time-trial stage (23 km).
YELLOW JERSEY
Awarded to the leader in the general classification, i.e. the man in front overall. It was created in 1919 as an homage to the yellow paper of l'Auto magazine, founder of the Tour de France in 1903. Eddy 'the Cannibal' Merckx wore it for a record 111 days.
GREEN JERSEY
The next most prestigious jersey is given to the leader in the points classification which rewards sprinters. During each stage, points are attributed during the intermediary sprints and at the finish. The jersey was introduced in 1953. Germany's Erik Zabel won it a record six consecutive times between 1996 and 2001.
POLKA-DOT JERSEY
Awarded to the rider who earns most of the points at each summit of a hill or pass. The winner is known as the King of the Mountains. Although the award was introduced in 1933, the distinctive jersey was not introduced until 1975. Scotland's Robert Millar was King of the Mountains in 1984.
WHITE JERSEY
The newest of the jerseys was introduced in 1975. Given to the best young rider (i.e. under 25) in the general classification, it was abandoned in 1989 but reintroduced in 1999.
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